Calais Campbell’s brother says Dolphins had ‘bidding war’ at deadline

Earlier this week, Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed that the team had an offer from the Baltimore Ravens for defensive lineman Calais Campbell, which they rejected just before the NFL trade deadline.

According to Campbell’s brother, it was much more than just that.

“There was a bidding war,” Jared Campbell said so on a podcast with comedian Michael Lenoci. “They had nine teams offer at least one sixth-round pick. … Then there was a bidding war, then the teams offered a fifth — the 49ers and the Ravens. (The Dolphins) said, ‘Oh, we’re going with the Ravens. You know the team, they looking good. You’re good.’ And the 49ers came in at the last minute and said we’re going to give him a fourth-round pick.

Other teams in the mix, according to Jared, included the Cardinals, Bears, Commanders and Bengals.

Receiving a fourth-round pick for a 38-year-old defensive lineman on an expiring contract is hard to turn down. The fact that the Dolphins kept Campbell despite those offers was a testament to faith that was not lost on the 17th-year defensive lineman.

“Calais was ready to be traded,” Jared Campbell said. “Somehow they came to the decision in the last hour before they said ‘Hey, give us that choice’. To be like, ‘No, we’re not going to do this.’ Calais was like, ‘Man, that made me feel like love. Because if you turn down a fourth-round pick for a 38-year-old guy on an expiring contract, you’ve got to really want me.'”

The Dolphins’ faith has been rewarded in recent weeks. The team has won three straight since the Nov. 5 deadline, and Campbell’s leadership has made a strong impression his teammates.

The six-time Pro Bowler leads the team in sacks with four and tackles for loss with nine.